# NTSB LAX81FA065: Luscombe 8A, N1530K, Ocotillo Wells, CA, March 22, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 22, 1981
- Place: Ocotillo Wells, CA · OCOTILLO WELLS, CA
- Location: 33.1445° N, 116.1342° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ocotillo Wells, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1445&lon=-116.1342&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 27, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136439
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA065
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA065

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0539  81/3/22    OCOTILLO WELLS,CA   LUSCOMBE 8A         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 64, 5420
        TIME - 1325                    N1530K              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RAMONA,CA                   OCOTILLO WELLS,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1530K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1530K-1983-12-17), registration cancelled 1983-12-17, S/N 4257 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8A
- Registry model: [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810322010989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810322010989A), Mar 22, 1981: Luscom 8A, Ocotillo Wells, CA, Destroyed. Flying over desert as low as two to three feet, struck sand-dune. Airplane flipped over after impact & burned.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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